Oh how we’ve missed you Miami Tavern! Closed for renovation in June this year, the historic tavern has finally reopened, much to the delight of awaiting locals.
History lesson first, The Miami Tavern/Shark Bar has occupied the same block of land for almost a century, with the visionary EH Berry opening the original Hotel Miami in 1925. Continual upgrades culminated in 1966 with the birth of The Miami Tavern, with leading Australian hospitality group ALH acquiring the venue in 1993.
Now renamed The Miami, the impressive new space has had locals intrigued for months. But wait no longer, a stylish coastal fit-out awaits.
So what’s changed? Well lovers of the charming and personality-soaked Shark Bar, you’ll find an impressive new restaurant and cafe on the top and a sleek new beachside bar on the bottom. How good.
Upstairs the interior reflects a casual, coastal vibe with light wood, furniture, white and blue accents and fresh flowers on tables. The bar, along the length of one wall, is absolutely packed with goodies and perfectly at home with peachy pink tiles and plenty of space. The outside deck, newly built and ready for summer sipping offers 180 degree views of North Burleigh beach and is probably where we will live for the rest of time.
The menu offers a modern take on some of your favourite pub dishes with plenty of fresh seafood dishes, tasty salads and sweet share boards for grazing.
The Miami Board was a five-star option with BBQ pork ribs, jerk chicken wings, crispy halloumi (HELLO), sweet potato wedges and a variety of sauces. We’d also happily eat the Crispy Fish Taco with slaw, guacamole and lemon, the Miami Poke Bowl with seaweed, ginger, teriyaki tofu, siitake, salads, edamame and soy sesame dressing AND the Wagyu Beef Burger with all of the most delicious burger toppings (including a dill pickle thank you very much).
Oh and there’s still a chicken parmigiana, seafood basket and a good old-fashioned pie (but fancy) on the menu so don’t worry about missing out on your faves.
The Grill section offers plenty of steak options for the meat lovers and there are entire sections dedicated to pizzas, salads and burgers too. It’s an impressive menu jam-packed with dishes that’ll have you returning time and time again.
Pub food at its finest you might say.
The cocktail list is equally as fun with plenty of exciting options on offer to both cool you down and have you Insta-snapping up a storm. We enjoyed the If You Musk with gin, elderflower liqueur, musk syrup, lemon juice and egg white and also the Merchant’s Wife with gin, Aperol, fresh watermelon and lime juice.
There’s a Salted Carmel Espresso Martini that comes with popcorn and that is very good time too friends.
Downstairs you’ll find a completely overhauled sports bar and TAB. Most importantly there will now be more than 22 fresh cold beers on tap (wine and other beverages still available for the non-beer friends obviously) and pool tables for deciding who’s buying the next round.
Don’t worry, there’s still heaps of space available for throwing around your best dance moves.
Spruced up in a lighter colour palette, it’s the perfect spot for a Friday arvo catch-up with your mates.
A new undercover patio, means rain, hail or shine, you’re on for arvo drinks.
If you’re as happy to see the Miami Tav back in operation as we are, get down there and give it a welcome high-five.
LOCATION: 2043-2047 Gold Coast Highway, Miami (bordered by Kelly Ave & The Esplanade)
HOURS: Monday and Saturday 10am until 2.30am, Sunday 10am until 12.30am
Words by Carly Snodgrass
Photos by Kirra Smith
